Customer Reviews

American Ninja 2: The Confrontation/American Ninja 3: Blood Hunt

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a review of American Ninja 2.

OK. So this movie isn't going to win any major awards. The plot is supposed to suck and the acting is supposed to be terrible. However, anybody who has watched and appreciated this movie knows differently.

The plot can't be that bad. Why are there popular movies today that seem to have borrowed ideas from American Ninja 2? A guy who has amnesia but has special fighting skills (Bourne Identity)? Cloning / genetic research (Jurasic Park)? On a side note, I am pretty sure the idea of cloning ninjas back then was a bunch of bull, but look at where the technology is today.

The acting may not be what this movie is remembered for, but Dudikoff is convincing as the American Ninja. He doensn't say too much, but he knows what's going on and he definitely seems to know how to kill ninjas. Steve James convinces you that he's actually having a good time killing ninjas. The bad guys convince you that they are indeed bad. What more can you possibly need?

Overall, this movie is jam packed with action and cool fighting sequences. There are a coupla cheesy scenes (jumping from the cliff onto the jet boat, and Steve James wrestling with like 15 guys), but that is what makes the movie funny. Its a shame that more movies today can't pull off this type of deliberate unprofessionalism once in awhile. Anyways, American Ninja 2 is a favoritie of mine (although I wouldn't really admit this outside of Amazon).

Couple of minor gripes:

1) Why go through all the trouble of a high speed truck chase, jumping out of the truck at full speed, crashing the truck, and blowing up the truck into the side of building... all to get rid of ONE stinking ninja who is barely hanging on. Couldn't Dudikoff just stop the truck, get out, and then beat up the ninja?

2) Since when do ninja masters start packing sawed off shotguns?

Although American Ninja 3 is included on the other side of the DVD, consider it as a bonus. American Ninja 2 is worth the price alone.

Putting the second and third installments of the "American Ninja" series on one specially-priced DVD just may have been the best idea that humanity has had since the wheel. These two movies, along with the original "American Ninja" film, represent everything that bad, low-budget action movies should be: negligible plotting, lame dialogue, wooding acting, and plenty of semi-believable martial-arts action. Here, in one sentence, is the plot of both movies: an American martial-arts whiz (played by Michael Dudikoff in the first two movies, and some other guy in the third one), with help from his well-muscled friend Jackson, takes on a sinister tycoon's private army of ninjas. Not that plot really matters, since it's interrupted about every five minutes for a fight scene. Dudikoff and the other guy can't really act, but they can fight, and that's all that really matters. No self-respecting fan of bad action should be without this DVD.

This DVD is one of the best buys in town. 2 classic movies for the price of one? Unheard of! I picked this one up as soon as it was released and I was not disappointed.

American Ninja 2 was one of my childhood favorites, and watching it in DVD format brought tears to my eyes. Dudikoff is the quiet hero, accompanied by Jackson, his muscle bound friend who says awesome one liners that bring a dash of comedy into the mix. Together they battle an army of super ninjas led by an evil ninja master, who in turn is commanded by a rich drug dealer. Same plot as the first film, and just as enjoyable.

American Ninja 3 doesn't have Dudikoff, but is still a great B action flick. The plot is exactly the same as the previous two films, but the action choreography is a little better than its predecessors. Steve James is even more brilliant as Jackson in this film because he gets more of the spotlight than he did in the first two films, and he makes the most of it. The only thing that puzzled me is Jackson's martial arts knowledge...when did he learn to wield double swords?

Both films have predictable plots, corny dialogue, sub-par acting and fighting, but none of that matters with films like this. These elements just make it that much better. These films are meant to be devoid of intellect. It's just purely entertainment, nothing more.

Perhaps it's just nostalgia that is clouding my judgement, but show these films to your kids and they will be ninja kicking you every day for a month. What can beat that?

For the record I only bought this two movie set because I liked American Ninja 2. I really didn't want part three and I will reveal why later on. The American Ninja series is a guilty pleasure series at best. I like parts 1 and 2 for what they were: action flicks to pass the time. If you look at it that way then American Ninja served its purpose.

American Ninja 2:The Confrontation. Rating 4 stars.

AN2 is the best sequel in the American Ninja series. The story detail the naval officers are kidnapped and its up to Joe to find out who is doing the kidnapping and stop them. Joe later on bumps into a plan involving genetically enhanced ninjas.

AN2 has some pretty cool fight sequences but my favorite scenes are the bar fight and the final showdown with the so-called super-ninjas. Michael Dudikoff is stiff as usual Steve James is a hoot as always. But I still have fond memories of this movie regardless. It was a good follow up to American Ninja and after seeing the other sequels its the best sequel period.

American Ninja 3: Blood Hunt. Rating 1 star.

As a sequel I hate AN3 with a passion. This movie is soulless to a fault. Michael Dudikoff is replaced by someone even more wooden than he is(Michael Bradley) and the results are disastrous. Even Steve James looks like he doesnt want to be here.

The story is about David Bradley's character joining a martial arts tournament. He later finds the guy that kills his father is planning to unleash a biological weapon and plans to stop him.

AN3 is boring as hell and that was a big no-no back in the 80s. B-movies had to be fun or they would have no audience. The makers of this weak link didnt seem to grasp that concept. Even the action scenes(which are the bread and butter of the American Ninja series) are weak and repetitive. Steve James is not his normal scenery-chewing self. He spends most of the movie looking like he's bored out of his mind. Everything that made the first two enjoyable for what they were are absent in this movie. Two thumbs down.

Conclusion: 1 good sequel and 1 weak sequel. If you liked American Ninja 2 you will have no choice but to get this two movie set. Unless you want the VHS you have no choice but to settle for this deal. I'm okay with it because I can still watch AN2 and disregard part three.

Dudikoff and James come back for another heapin' helpin' of ninja hellraisin'. This time they're after a drug lord. Now if you were a multibillionaire drug lord with a top bio-engineer on staff, how would you protect your investment? Naturally you'd do the logical thing and create an army of Superninjas. That's exactly what this villain does too! Dudikoff and James catch on to this and there's major butt kickin' in store. Dudikoff is still likeable as he snatches arrows out of mid-air, woos a scientists chick and looks like a prettyboy. Steve James is pretty much a scene stealer with his one liners and cool fight scenes. In fact, James is the true highlight of these films coz his fighting style is so cool, and some great facial expressions. Definitely one of the most underrated action stars ever. The superninjas are supposed to be superhuman, but Dudikoff(and everyone else) seem to have no problem dispatching them like any other action movie thugs. Plus, what better way to show off the power of these new superninjas than to have the head ninja slaughter about thirty of them in front of a bunch of potential investors? Very fun movie. American Ninja 3 only really works coz of James, who's pretty much the star of the film. David Bradly steps in for Dudikoff, and isn't all that impressive. To Bradly's credit, he seems to actually have martial arts knowledge(most likely how he got the role, coz it sure wasn't his acting abilities), but zero of Dudikoff's charm(though Bradly can snatch arrows out of the air too!). I've seen worse action stars, but not many. The plot seems similar to Part 2, with a evil scientist dude messing with viruses. He needs Bradly(alive of course) to carry out his fiendish plan, though it's never said what it really is he's trying to do. The villain here(Marjoe from everyone's favorite giant rat movie, Food Of The Gods) is a little more charismatic than the villains from the two previous films, but that's not saying much. Like most reviewers have said, the money is worth it for AN2. However, Part 3 is cool just for the sake of Steve James and his cool fight scenes. Are you a real man? Yeah? Then you need this dvd.

American Ninja 2 has to be the one film i can watch endlessly and constantly crack up in hysterics every time.
Unintentionally funny, the "storyline" has a drug baron running some sort of "Super Ninja" program (yes they are actually called Super Ninja)off an island(called Blackbeard Island lol). The two heroes, Dudikoff and Steve James, get into all sorts of unnessecary fights along the way to stopping the baron.
There is at least one giggle in every scene, and so many times i end up laughing out loud, tears streaming.
The acting is woeful from everyone, the dialouge pathetic, and the fight scenes are just amazingly bad. The music just adds to the goofiness of this film.
Its BRILLIANT!!
So many scenes like i said to look out for, but here are my personal favs that i can remember:

1. The fight scenes near the start at the island on some rocks is awfully cherographed. One ninja gets killed having a stick thrown at his chest!

2.Practically all the dialouge is cheesey and goofy.

3.A scene in a bar where a mass brawl erupts. Much hilarity.

4. Every character is brilliantly woeful.

Amercian Ninja 3 is even worse! This one replaced Dudikoff with some muppet called David Bradley who looks like a football player named Gianfranco Zola, a midget italian who used to play for Chelsea.
One classic scene near the end has him doing an almost Incredible Hulk changeover where he gains inner strength, and yes it is meant to be serious.
This Bradley guy is awful, and it makes the film even more funnier.
Plotwise, its a repeat of the second film, but with acting and dialouge like this, you dont need plot.

If you like having a laugh over bad films, you will be hard pushed to find anything more hysterical then American Ninja 2 and 3.

I like part 2. I'm not a fan at all of cussing and that sort of thing, but the martial arts was great. The thing that I like the most is the fact that the former undefeated world karate champion, Mike Stone, was not only the fight coordinator, but the "head" bad guy ninja. Mike is the best karate fighter in history due to his pro career with no losses. He beat Chuck Norris, Allen Steen, and many other greats of the 60's and 70's karate era. It's good to see a former champion doing fight scenes like these. The fight scenes were more realistic that what you see in most movies like Van Damme's flicks. I think Stone did a good job as a coordinator. Watch the way mike fights, he's very technical and good at what he does.

why a double feature? i am happy AM 2 is finally coming out on dvd. it is goofy fun from start to finish. i have to admit this is michael dudikoff's best film and AM 2 is definitely the best in the series. the martial arts here is really good and funny at the same time; check out the choreography in one scene at the bad guy's arena-it really looks out of sync. it is also nicely shot on that island where the marines work in their loud shirts, hang out with the sexy gals on the beach + soak up the sun. as for AM 3 well david bradley? a telephone pole can do a better acting job than he can. ditto for AM 4 & 5! part 2 is the one for me!

P.S. in AM2, look carefully at an early scene, about 12 minutes into the film, where dudikoff and steve james leave a colonel's office after being briefed about missing marines on the island. when the 2 leave YOU SEE MICHAEL DUDIKOFF'S STUNT DOUBLE THAT BEARS ZERO RESEMBLANCE TO MIKE!!! there is no fight scene! it is just this skinnier faced double walking out and when they're out the door, it's dudikoff again. what happened there? it is the most bizarre sequence i've ever seen. AM2 is still a good flick but that scene took me by surprise. i've seen this film many times over the years and last night, august 26, 2003 was the 1st time i saw that blooper! ouch!

Two action movies on one dvd is always good. American Ninja 2 alone is worth the price alone, so I think American Ninja 3 is like a bonus because alone, it is not a must-buy. So let me talk about American Ninja 2 first and give it a stand-alone review.

Michael Dudikoff and Steve James return in American Ninja 2, they were great in the first movie because they kicked a** and had great chemistry since they were good friends in real life, so more of that is in this one.One thing I like about these two, is there total opposite personalities. Joe Armstrong played by Dudikoff is quiet and calm, and only fights when he has to. Curtis Jackson played by Steve James is more talkative and funny and is always ready to go kick some a**, he even says so.

I'd like to say the storyline is kind of terrible, the story in part one was much better, but if you buy this, like me, it's for the action. But basically the Lion which is the main villian's name is having marines captured on an island and being trained by a real ninja after scientific enhancements to fight. Too bad the head ninja played by karate master Mike Stone(the only Asian ninja in this one)can't train his ninja to not be bumbling idiots. He's the only ninja that actually fights like a real ninja and can give Dudikoff a challenge. In the first movie, Dudikoff was the only one who could take on the ninja, of course all of the ninja in that one were Japanese, since this one has marines captured to become ninja, they aren't going to be nearly as good, so Steve James in this one kicks some ninja a**. He shows a little of his martial arts skill to the ninja as well. Plus he's buff as always.

In this one, there's lots of great combat. Dudikoff once again pulls off the martial arts very well, including some great throws outside the bar when a big fat man keeps pushing him until Dudikoff has enough and whoops some punk-a**. This is my favorite part. But some of the ninja are so slow it's funny and they don't pose a challenge for the Dude Meister either. Some are a little clumsy as well. I guess the American ninja is so good, he makes them look like greenhorns. So basically, the leader ninja is the only one who is fast, he shows it when he easily takes apart a civilian in a bar and later many of his own ninja at his demonstration. He also has one of the most corny but funny lines in an action movie of all time. "That damn American ninja. He fights like a tiger." I also would like to know why in part of the movie when Joe Armstrong is driving and a ninja latches on to his truck, and it's like he's the super ninja because he's dragging this ninja all over the place until he leaps out of the truck and it explodes. He could have just stopped the truck, got out, and easily kicked the ninja's a** like he'd done to all the others. I guess the director just wanted a driving chase type scene. Even if it's pointless, it's essential for an action movie.

As far as acting, there's plenty of b-movie bad acting. Dudikoff, James, and Larry Poindexter are the best actors here in this movie. I think Dudikoff and James are just being themselves as usual. Poindexter is a comic relief and doesn't fight that good in the bar fight scene. There's also a girl to save as well, she's pretty and of course Dudikoff saves her when she is captured as bait. James hooks up with a pretty woman as well in the movie. Anyways, the final confrontation is good as well and the super ninja tries to cheat too. And where the heck did he pull that shotgun out from? Anyways, the only real extra is a theatrical trailer, but the action in this movie, and Armstrong and Jackson are too likable not to enjoy this movie. Bad storyline, great action, funny lines, not enough extras, 4 stars.

I give american ninja 2 5 stars and anerican ninja 3 3 stars.It would have been better if they made a DVD that had american ninja 1 and 2 on it rather than 2 and 3